On the occasion of this year’s world press freedom day, the Media Foundation for West Africa congratulates all media (traditional and new) in the West Africa Region for their immense role in supporting informed citizen participation in the democratization processes of the various countries in the region. The Foundation also takes the opportunity to pay blazing tribute to all journalists who have lost their lives in their line of duty.
As the theme for this year’s celebrations intimates – “Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015 Development Agenda –” the media continue to be critical development partners. The watchdog role of the media helps in reporting successes in development interventions while helping to hold governments, businesses and others accountable.
The MFWA, therefore, calls on governments in the region and beyond to see the media as partners and provide an unfettered environment for freedom of expression and media practice – both online and offline. We also urge societies/groups and individuals to actively support the promotion and defence of the fundamental right to free expression to promote civic engagement in all social and political processes.
We also encourage citizens to take advantage of the new media and its prospects, and also the mobile phone boom on the continent to actively participate in the development and overall governance processes of their respective countries.
For their own sustainability and integrity of journalism, the MFWA also calls on the media in the region to exercise high levels of professionalism in the discharge of their duties as they bring news to the doorsteps of the citizenry and help in building open and transparent societies.
The Media Foundation for West Africa is a regional freedom of expression organisation that promotes, defends, protect and expand the fundamental freedom of expression of all persons in West Africa.
For more information, please contact
Sulemana Braimah
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-0302-24 24 70
Fax: 233-0302-22 10 84
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